Well now, if you compare today's Japanese engines with yesteryear's
American engines then I'd have to revise my answer and say yes. Many of
the OEM's are now offering Honda and Kawas just because so many
customers are demanding decent quality engines.

I agree. Got a 7 year old 5hp honda powered rotary that's never had an oil
change. It's cut grass in two countries and for the last two months has been
used to cut a 1 acre rough paddock (madness!) while I work out which tractor
to get. If it doesn't start first pull that means I forgot the choke. If I
remember the choke then it allways starts first pull. The mower has a dead
man handle so the engine cuts off every time I empty the grass box. That
means it's stopped and restarted about 30 times an hour. If it wasn't
reliable I'd have dumped it ages ago.

Maybe. It depends on the availability of repair parts. Sears is now
down to 1 year for these. Also, the quality of service needs to be
considered. Just after my tractor/mower was delivered I discovered it
was not charging the battery. The repairman's solution was to replace
the engine!
Someone suggested viewing tractors as throw-away items which last only 5
or 6 years. That's not very satisfying but it well might be the right
approach. I'm fearing the day when the Chinese manufacturers invent
"planned obsolescence" the way Detroit did back in the '50s.

The question was regarding engines.
As for the availability of repair parts, you must be referring to the
"guaranteed availability" of equipment parts which is far different from
real life availability. Most any part that is subject to normal wear and
tear will be available for as long as there is any real demand for it.
There are many after-market parts suppliers that will supply parts when
an OEM discontinues them, /if/ there is sufficient demand. Some parts
such as frames and body panels are really only available while they are
in production. It is these parts that cause the "guaranteed
availability" to be so short. It is really more of a CYA thing.

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